Darren Turner and the Aston Martin Racing Team returned to the Snetterton race track in Norfolk today to continue the testing programme of their new V8 Vantage GTE ahead of the extended World Endurance Championship 'Super' season that kicks off at the beginning of April at the Prologue.

Track conditions at Snetterton were much better for the team last time out back in September, as this morning the team had to wait a couple of hours for the remaining ice to melt from the track before proceedings could begin - a good test to the durability of their new Michelin rubber as the track remained still clearly slippery until lunch.

Indeed, those proceedings took a slight Chuckle Bros approach as after the mandatory noise test it then took more than one mechanic to battle with the drivers door safety net before realising the catch needed adjusting to fit the length of the net and a spanner was called for ...........!!

Requested not to take any photos of the general mechanics of the new car, we were told that the car had indeed completed its full homologation process and that this and subsequent tests (just like the one last week at Donington) would be just systems, set up and general practice runs for the team with their new machinery and (new) drivers going into the start of the season itself.

We also understood that the two new GTE Pro race cars are both well under construction at the Prodrive factory and that all three factory entered cars into the WEC (and their full driver line ups) will be at a further test at Motorland Aragon early next month ahead of their customer test dates in Portimao in March.

Le Mans winning team mate, Jonny Adam was also on hand to grab a few laps in the GTE during his customer team duties for the British GT Championship that are also ongoing at Snetterton.